Machine for packing eggs



July 25, 1961 H. J. MUMMA 2,993,622

MACHINE FOR PACKING EGGS Filed Dec. 23, 1954 l9 Sheets-Sheet 1 E'IE 1 INVENTOR HAROLD J. MUMMA BY MOM ATTORNEY y 1961 H. J. MUMMA 2,993,622

MACHINE FOR PACKING EGGS Filed Dec. 25, 1954 19 $heets$heet 2 Ble 314 Ste,

H6 44 VENTOR l HAROLD J. MUMMA BY "5: HWY-w;oZ

ATTORNEY July 25, 1961 H. J. MUMMA MACHINE FOR PACKING EGGS l9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed. Dec. 23, 1954 mH mHHaQH INVENTOR HAROLD J. MUMMA ATTORNEY y 1951 H. J. MUMMA 2,993,622

MACHINE FOR PACKING EGGS Filed Dec. 23, 1954 l9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Z8OL- T1 E: q 282$ INVENTOR HAROLD J. MUMMA BY F/rww ATTORNEY July 25, 1961 H. J. MUMMA ,99

MACHINE FOR PACKING EGGS Filed Dec. 25, 1954 l9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR HAROLD J. MUMMA ATTORNEY July 25, 1961 H. J. MUMMA MACHINE FOR PACKING aces 19 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 23, 1954 BY HIM E'IE IIII ATTORNEY y 1961 H. J. MUMMA 2,993,622

MACHINE FOR PACKING EGGS Filed Dec. 23, 1954 19 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR HAROLD J. MUMMA ATTO RNEY July 25, 1961 H. J. MUMMA 2,993,622

momma: FOR PACKING EGGS Filed Dec. 25, 1954 19 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR HAROLD J. MUMMA ATTORNEY July 25, 1961 H. J. MUMMA 2,993,622

MACHINE FOR PACKING EGGS Filed Dec. 25, 1954 l9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR HAROLD J. MUMMA BY i ATTORNEY July 25, 1961 H. J. MUMMA MACHINE FOR PACKING sees 19 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Dec. 23, 1954 ATTORNEY July 25, 1961 H. J. MUMMA MACHINE FOR PACKING EGGS INVENTOR HAROLD J. MUMMA Filed Dec. 25, 1954 1.9 Sheets-Sheet 12 E'I [3 lEi July 25, 1961 H. J. MUMMA 2,993,622

MACHINE FOR PACKING EGGS Filed Dec. 23, 1954 1.9 Sheets-Sheet 13 INVENTOR HAROLD J. MUMMA ATTORNEY BY M 44 July 25, 1961 H. J. MUMMA MACHINE FOR PACKING EGGS l9 Sheets-Sheet 14 Filed Dec. 25, 1954 F'1E 2 :El

INVE NTOR HAROLD J. MUMMA ATTORNEY July 25, 1961 H. J. MUMMA 2,993,622

MACHINE FOR PACKING EGGS Filed Dec. 25, 1954 19 Sheets-Sheet 15 (T71 rm (T71 INVENTOR HAROLD J. MUMMA July 25, 1961 H. J. MUMMA MACHINE FOR PACKING EGGS l9 Sheets-Sheet 16 Filed Dec. 23, 1954 INVENTOR HAROLD J. MUMMA Nmm Om ATTORNEY July 25, 1961 H. J. MUMMA MACHINE FOR PACKING EGGS l9 Sheets-Sheet 17 Filed Dec. 23, 1954 m5 m5 mom wm mom 9m mmv Em mmw #5? 1 $9 .9 wow 05 $2 m- UN m-MIHH M- UN'Ei-Hi INVENTOR HAROLD J. MUMMA Nmm Om ATTORNEY July 25, 1961 H. J. MUMMA 2,993,622

MACHINE FOR PACKING EGGS Filed Dec. 23, 1954 19 Sheets-Sheet 1s l2 -ma INVENTOR HAROLD J. MUMMA ATTORNEY a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 23, 1954, Ser. No. 477,361 Claims. (Cl. 221-421) The present invention relates to machines for packing eggs. More particularly the present invention relates to machines for packing eggs into lidded cartons that provide two consecutive parallel rows of pockets each adapted to receive an individual egg with its main axis disposed vertically.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine that is operable to fill the individual pockets of a carton with eggs.

Another object is to provide a machine, of the type referred to, that is of simple construction yet dependable in operation.

Another object is to provide mechanism, in a magazine adapted to receive a stack of superposed lidded cartons, that is dependably operable to discharge the cartons individually from the magazine onto a conveyor underneath.

Another object is to provide a magazine that is adapted to receive a stack of superposed lidded cartons and which is operable to deposit the lowest carton in thestack onto a conveyor underneath while dependably retaining the remaining cartons in the stack within the magazine.

Another object is to provide a machine, of the type re'-' ferred to, that is operable to successively place the consecutive pocket rows of a lidded carton intoeg'g'lreceiv ing position relative to an egg supply con'veyo'r.

Another object is to provide a machine towhich a stack of lidded cartons is delivered and past which a procession of eggs may be conducted on a suitable egg supplyconveyor and which is operable to separate the cartons from each other and place them with their pocket rows successively into egg receiving position below the egg supply conveyor so that the eggs may be dropped from' said conveyor into the individual pockets of the cartons.

Another object is to provide a simple yet dependably operating conveyor for cartons of the type referred to;

' Another object is to provide a carton supply conveyor, for egg packing machines of the type referred to, that is adapted to firmly grip cartons delivered thereto and to hold them securely in positionas the conveyor advances.

Another object is to provide acarton supply conveyor with means automatically effective to hold a carton deposited onto the conveyor securely on the conveyor during advancement thereof.

Another object is to provide a drive mechanism, for carton supply conveyors of the type referred to, that operates to advance the conveyor alternately at a relatively slow and a relatively fast rate of speed.

Another object is to provide intermittent drive mechanism, for carton supply conveyors of the type'referred to, that operates to advance the conveyor alternately over a shorter and a longer distance.

Another object is to provide a drive mechanism, for carton supply conveyors of the type referred to, that operates to advance the conveyor alternately over'a relatively short distance at a relatively slow rate of speed and over a relatively long distance at arelatively fast rate of speed.

Another object is to provide an intermittent drive mechanism, for the carton supply conveyor of an egg packing machine of the type referredto, that operates'to advance the cartons alternately at a slow rate of speed over the limited distance necessary to place the second pocket row of a carton into egg receiving position after thefirstpocket row of said'carton has been filled with eggs, and

ice

at a fast rate of speed over the relatively long distance necessary to place the first pocket row of a directly succeeding carton on the conveyor into egg receiving position.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent fro-m the following description of the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred em bodiment thereof, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an egg packing machine embodying my invention. A

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the egg packing machine illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section through the egg pack ing machine taken along line 33 of FIG. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrows associated with said line.

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are fragmentary longitudinal sections through the egg packing machine taken along lines 4 -4, 5-5, and 6-6, respectively, of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are fragmentary longitudinal sections through the egg packing machine taken along the line 7-8 of FIG. 2, and illustrating the drive mechanism for the carton supply conveyor of the machine.

FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D are schematic longitudinal sections through the egg packing machine, similar to FIGS. 7 and 8, illustrating consecutive operational positions of the drive mechanism for the carton supply con-' veyor.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective of the conveyor drive mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective of the carton magazine and the carton supply conveyor.

FIG. 12 is another fragmentary perspective of the car-' ton supply conveyor and of mechanism for delivering a carton from the magazine of the machine onto said conveyor.

FIG. 13 is a transverse fragmentary section through the upper run of the carton supply conveyor taken along line 1313 of FIG. 3, and viewed in the direction of the arrows associated with said line.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary transverse section through the upper run of the car-ton supply conveyor taken along line 14 14 of FIG. 3, and viewed in the direction of the arrows associated with said line.

FIGS. 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D and 15E are fragmentary longitudinal sections through the carton supply conveyor illustrating different operational positions of the carton impelling and retaining components thereof.

FIG. 16 is an elevational detail view partly in section of a clutch that is interposed in the power train of the carton supply conveyor.

FIG. 17 is an exploded fragmentary perspective of the clutch illustrated in FIGURE 16.

FIG. 18 is a side elevational detail view of component mechanisms of said clutch.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary perspective illustratingia portion of the egg supply conveyor for the egg packing machine.

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary perspective detail view illustrating one of the egg supporting buckets of the egg supply conveyor shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of control mechanism, which operates to release eggs from the buckets of the egg supply conveyor as they pass over a carton under neath.

FIG. 22 is a plan view partly in section of the control mechanism illustrated in FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary side elevational detail view, partly in section, of one of the components of the control mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22'.

FIGS. 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D, 24E, 24F, 24G and 24H are schematic plan views of the control mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22 showing a sequence of con secutive operational positions thereof; 

